Chapter 378: It’s Completely Different from What I Expected

This is bad—really bad. While Fabienne, Nero, and Mira are looking at me with sparkling eyes, everyone else is completely dumbfounded. I need to take advantage of this moment, somehow suppress the situation, and make a swift retreat.

“Well then, I think it’s time for us to take our leave…”

“Oh no, no, no! Why are you trying to leave as if nothing happened? Sorry, but that’s not happening. Looks like I have more things to report to Father now?”

This is the first time I’ve seen Alex-niisan this flustered. So, this is what he looks like in such a state. I always thought of him as calm and composed, but I guess even he has a limit to his capacity. I wonder what sister-in-law Daniella would think if she saw him like this? She’d probably feel relieved, realizing that even Alex-niisan is just a normal person.

“So, you’re human after all, Oniisan.”

“…What exactly do you mean by that? More importantly, Julius, you’re human too, right?”

“Of course. What are you even talking about? Come on, Oniisan.”

Even though I said that, no one in the room denied otherwise. …What exactly do they think I am? This is starting to get a little scary.

“Um… well, Julius, I get that it’s not hot, but isn’t it heavy?”

“It’s a mass of magic power, so it doesn’t have any weight. Want to try holding it?”

“Ah, uh, yeah. I guess I’ll give it a try?”

Oniisan, who had been cowering under the glare of the Firebird, carefully extended his arms. I moved the Firebird onto them. It didn’t peck at him or anything, so he looked relieved. Now, he was observing it more closely.

“It’s really neither hot nor heavy. That’s so strange. …This thing has consciousness, doesn’t it?”

“Pii!”

“Of course. It’s a magic spell designed to chase down enemies.”

The Firebird spell is an incredibly convenient magic that automatically tracks its target. Just casting it randomly would make it hit enemies, which made it very useful in mob battles. Additionally, by pouring in more magic power, it could be strengthened just like earlier—that’s another charm of this spell.

“Lionel, what do you think?”

“Well, I do know of the Firebird spell. However, the Firebird spell that I’m familiar with seems to be quite different from the one Julius-sama is using.”

“That’s ridiculous! I used it because it was listed in the magic compendium.”

I’m not an idiot. I knew that if I suddenly used some unknown magic, it would cause a commotion. That’s exactly why I only used the Firebird spell that I found in the magic compendium.

…Come to think of it, I had only checked whether it existed, but I never really looked at the detailed description of the spell. Careless mistake!

“Um, well, you see, I got a bit carried away since everyone was watching me. That’s probably why things turned out this way. So, Lionel, what’s the original version of this spell supposed to be like?”

“…The original version is a spell that shoots multiple smaller Fire Arrows at once. Since the arrows fly in a pattern resembling a flock of birds, the spell was likely named Firebird because of that.”

“H-Huh…”

Completely different! This is something that can’t be faked. Even if it’s a smaller version of Fire Arrow, no matter how many there are, it shouldn’t be able to cause that much damage. No wonder no one uses it.

“Um, Julius-sama, I’d like to hold the firebird too.”

“Of course, go ahead. Here you go.”

I took the firebird back from Alex-niisan and placed it on Fabienne’s arm. Her face lit up as if she had been given a new toy. It seems Fabienne likes animals. Well, whether the firebird counts as an animal is another matter.

Since Nero was also interested, I let him hold it on his arm as well. Boys tend to like things like this too.

Finally, I placed it on Mira’s head. Now, at last, it was time to shear Mira’s fur.

“Alex-niisan, is it alright now? If we don’t start shearing Mira soon, we won’t finish by noon.”

“It’s not alright at all, but if you’re going to shear Mira now, I suppose there’s no choice. Be careful. Now then, how should I report this…?”

While Alex-niisan and Lionel were worrying over it, I quietly slipped away. Of course, I made sure to dismiss the firebird as if nothing had happened. If it remained, things would undoubtedly become more complicated.

And if Rosalia saw this scene, what would she say? She’d probably start saying she wants one or wants to keep it as a pet. Yeah, that makes it even less of an option.

At the knights’ stables, I borrowed some scissors meant for grooming horses.

“Sigh. How did things end up like this?”

“Julius-sama, please don’t be discouraged. You only followed Alex-sama’s instructions faithfully. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Thank you, Fabienne. You’re the only one who says that.”

“Julius-sama, I think the same as Fabienne-sama!”

“Kyuu, kyuu!”

“Yeah, thanks to both of you as well.”

Even though it was still morning, I already felt completely drained. I wasn’t in any position to criticize a worn-out mage.

Nero laid out a mat for me, and I started shearing on top of it. The mat was to make it easier to collect Mira’s fur. What a waste.

“I guess I’ll start with the belly. Alright, Mira, lie on your back.”

“Kyuu.”

“Fabienne, Nero, just in case, make sure to hold Mira firmly.”

“Understood.”

“Got it.”

Mira, with her limbs held down by Fabienne and Nero, looked up at me with teary eyes full of anxiety. Do I really seem that untrustworthy? I’ll have you know, I have the Shearing skill.

To obtain high-quality wool, I used to raise various animals like sheep, horses, cows, chickens, and rabbits on my personal ranch.

It’s my first time shearing a Holy Dragon, but it’s just like a slightly bigger rabbit. It’ll be fine, totally fine.

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